Ask Dr. Z

Should I use open codes, or are TEVAR codes 33880, 34715, 34716, 75956, 37252, 37253, plus cath and redo code correct? 

"We began with the right axillary cutdown.We also identified the first and second rib to allow a channel for a bypass graft to connect from the ascending aorta to the axillary artery. Aortic arch as a means to confirm were in the true lumen for future placement of her frozen elephant trunk Next we performed a redo sternotomy and entered the right and left pleura. We then performed performed an extensive adhesiolysis over about a 1 hour periodWe do not separate the subclavian artery as it appeared to be very distal and difficult to access from the chest. We sewed an 8 millimeters graft onto the left carotid artery first. We then identified the IVUS catheter and the aortic arch and placed an Amplatz wire through there. We removed the IVUS catheter advanced our TEVAR graft through the Amplatz wire and under direct vision deployed our TEVAR. The TEVAR was placed covering the left subclavian artery and covering part of the carotid artery between zone 1 zone 2."